Springbank 12 Year Cask Strength (Batch 17)

Nose: Smoke and leather, orchard fruit and stone fruit. A faint nuttiness, like almond or walnut. Occasionally dried strawberries. Perhaps I'm imagining it, but I detect a hint of sea spray. The overall impression is like observing a beach bonfire from a distance—close enough to sense the smoke, but far enough that it doesn't overpower what's rising from the surf. Palate: Honey, white tea, and sweet orchard fruit greet you first. This is promptly and rudely displaced by a potent cinnamon and anise spice finish that begins very early. The spice verges on capsaicin. I wish the softer notes lingered longer. Salted caramel appears intermittently with the spice on successive sips. The mouthfeel is substantial, oily, and salty, with some bitterness and a slight tannic puckering. This is not the most straightforward spirit to drink. One must be patient and curious, then truly take their time with it. It feels like the type of bottle one might purchase one of each biannual release and then keep and consume slowly over time when the mood strikes, which is likely not very often.

The finest aspects of every scotch region combined into one glorious blend. Light peat smoke at the higher end (more meaty than smoky), earthy/dirty, and salty with pleasant maritime minerality. The sherry is nicely balanced with the peat and earth, offering a delicious dried red fruit characteristic; all enveloped in a layer of savory fragrance of florals, fruit, and caramel. Enjoy neat or with a few drops of water!

Springbank 12YO 2019 Cask Strength 57.1% Second attempt. Salty, a touch of pepper, caramel, drying sensation, dried grape, sherry - confirmed, it's half sherry and half bourbon. Spicy impact, sherry notes, dried fruit, some nuttiness, a bitter edge. A lingering sulfuric smoke. Springbank 12YO 2019 57.19% cask strength Sharp peppery notes. Vibrant, citrusy, it spreads across the entire palate, finishing dry. Mild peat.

Nose: Smoky and beach-like peat. After dilution, it became more floral, mellowed, with red berries. Flavor: Peaty and spicy with anise and a caramel breath. A good mix of peat and sherry. Quite complex. Not ideal for me as a scotch novice, but the intricate character is definitely perceptible.

Fresh, spirit-forward, and medicinal. Smells like cough syrup with grassy notes. Green and fresh. A little peat, maybe? Oily and thick, with fresh grass, licorice, and fennel in the mouth, minty and slightly peppery. Medium finish with the cough syrup scent returning.

Needs a bit of water to reveal more complexity. Smelled somewhat of salt and eucalyptus, tasted of spices with a hint of caramel. The finish wasn't as fiery as anticipated. Definitely add water and let it rest a bit before drinking.